FROM THE GALLERY

Waikato Times, Volume 116, Issue 19363, 17 September 1934, Page 8

FROM THE GALLERY

WEEK IN PARLIAMENT. BUDGET DEBATE FINISHED. BIG LEGISLATIVE PROGRAMME. (Times Correspondent.) WELLINGTON, Saturday. Eleven weeks of the session have now gone, but so far the House of Representatives has comparatively little to show for Its labours. Future progress will no doubt be determined largely by the nature of the legislation the Government has yet to introduce, chiefly that arising out of the report of the Dairy Industry Commission. The Prime Alinister is reported to have said in Christchurch that he was doubtful if the session would end before December. It therefore seems obvious that a heavy legislative programme lies ahead. On the other hand, there are certain influences at work this year which may close the session earlier than anticipated. The most important of these is the Alelbourne Centenary celebrations which some members are eager to attend. Air W. P. Endean (Government —Parnell) will be visiting Alelbourne as the official representative of the New Zealand branch of the Empire Parliamentary Association. Minister for Melbourne. Captain H. AI. Rushworth (Country —Bay of Islands) is also leaving New Zealand for Australia late in October and Air D. G. Sullivan (Labour — Avon) is hoping to make similar arrangements. It is fairly certain, too, that a Alinister of the Crown will go to Victoria as official representative of the Government, although this will not be without difficulties with the session still in progress. Forty-six speakers participated in the Financial Debate, which concluded on Thursday afternoon. Government and Labour members each accounted for twenty-two speeches, the remaining two being made by Independents. The two members of the Opposition not to speak were Mr W. J. Jordan (Alanukau) and Air J. O’Brien (Buller). Revision of TarlfT. Following the Budget debate the House went into committee to discuss the clauses in the Customs Acts Amendment Bill and the items in the tariff schedules. Under the most favourable circumstances this is expected lo take a week at the very least. When the week-end adjournment was taken no progress had been made beyond Clause 17 of the Bill fixing the rates of duty on beer brewed in New Zealand, Labour and Independent members taking strong exception to the proposal to reduce the excise duty by threepence pe:‘ gallon.

Although the sliding scale of wheat and flour duties is a highly controversial issue in Parliament, the opposition to them during the passage of the Customs Bill is not likely to be effective enough to disturb the existing state of affairs. Air C. A. Wilkinson (Independent—Egmont) and other opponents of the duties protested against a clause allowing the Alinister to fix the f.o.b. value of wheat and flour, but the clause was retained by 59 votes to 6.